Toronto Electricians and Electrical Contractors

Renewable energy has been plagued by some persistent rumors that just aren’t true. Here, we respond to six of the most common. 1. Renewable energy is more expensive. Has it been a while since you last looked at renewables? If so, you may still think they are more expensive than conventional sources of energy. In truth, renewables are quickly becoming one of the most plentiful and cheapest sources of electricity. In 2017, 95% of new electricity capacity added to the U.S. grid was renewable and, globally, solar photovoltaic was the fastest growing electricity source of all. Solar power is already cheaper than fossil fuels in nearly 60 developing countries . Earlier this year, IRENA reported that by 2020, wind and solar generation will be the least expensive electricity sources everywhere. The economics of renewables benefit from technology improvements, efficiencies, and increasing demand. There are also no input costs for wind or solar generation as they do not rely on fuel. By co...

Misguided Appeal in Grindr Case Is Latest Threat to Online Free Speech Online harassment is a serious problem, and one that defies easy solutions. As the digital world grapples with potential strategies to make online life safer, we have to also fight back against misguided approaches that would undercut what makes the Internet an essential tool for modern life. That’s why EFF filed an amicus brief in Herrick v. Grindr , asking an appeals court to affirm a lower court’s dismissal of the case. The plaintiff, Matthew Herrick, alleges that he has been mercilessly harassed online by an ex-boyfriend, who appears to have created a series of fake profiles of Herrick on the gay-dating app Grindr. Herrick says that more than 1000 men have arrived at his home and his work, thinking that they were invited for sex. In his lawsuit, Herrick is asking that Grindr be held responsible for the fake profiles and the damage his ex-boyfriend has done. But this strategy risks both free speech on the...

EFF and ACLU Ask Court to Allow Legal Challenge To Proceed Against Warrantless Searches of Travelers’ Smartphones, Laptops Eleven Travelers in Groundbreaking Case Face Substantial Risk of Future Unconstitutional Searches Boston, Massachusetts—The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) urged a federal judge today to reject the Department of Homeland Security’s attempt to dismiss an important lawsuit challenging DHS’s policy of searching and confiscating, without suspicion or warrant, travelers’ electronic devices at U.S. borders. EFF and ACLU represent 11 travelers—10 U.S. citizens and one lawful permanent resident—whose smartphones and laptops were searched without warrants at the U.S. border in a groundbreaking lawsuit filed in September. The case, Alasaad v. Nielsen , asks the court to rule that the government must have a warrant based on probable cause before conducting searches of electronic devices, which contain highly detail...

In my last 2 blogs , I wrote about several concerns customers are facing with their aging LV and MV switchgear. For the most part, these center around safety, reliability and productivity: Arc chutes of old circuit breakers contain asbestos, adding to safety concerns for maintenance personnel. Replacements parts are very hard (or impossible) to be found and priced as an aftermarket product Plants are exposed to forced outages and loss of production due to poor equipment reliability Employee safety is often in question due to slow opening time, increasing the arc flash hazard Circuit breaker mechanisms have a lot of moving parts, that need lubrication or reconditioning. Low- and medium-voltage switchgear and circuit breakers are beyond their expected useful life. In this blog post, Alison Grimes from the Mesothelioma + Asbestos Awareness Center and I would like to raise awareness about the risks of asbestos and the importance of eliminating asbestos from electrical infrastructu...